This album project began as a voice and piano recital called Zweisamkeit (Two Togtherness) which was performed with German pianist Paul Cibis as part of Zeitgeist Irland 24, a season of Irish arts in Germany in 2024. I made the decision to subsequently record this programme as an album with Paul in Berlin.
The resulting album – TOGETHERNESS – was published in 2025 on Navona Records. It features rarities of German lieder (by Carl Loewe) alongside more well known song settings by Schumann, Strauss and Schubert. Most importantly I had the privilege of championing new music by living Irish composers Anne-Marie O’Farrell and Criostóir Ó Loingsigh, including songs in the Irish language (even more rare!) alongside art songs by Thomas Moore, Ina Boyle and Benjamin Britten.
I was so lucky to have some financial support from the BIA (Ireland’s pilot scheme, the basic income for artists) which part funded the project. I did not have the funds at the time of publication to manufacture physical CDs so I released the album electronically.
I am asking for your support to raise the funds to manufacture a batch of CDs. Any amount big or small is great.
https://whydonate.com/fundraising/togetherness-help-me-print-cds
If you would like to receive a CD, please donate €15 and if you need it posted to you in Ireland, please donate €19. Either way email me at helenhancocksoprano@gmail.com. If you are international, also contact me to arrange delivery. Thanks for reading!
Listening page with links to all streaming services is here
https://lnk.fuga.com/helenhancockpaulcibis_togetherness
Paul and I performed a tour of a new recital Under (the light of) that same moon in March 2025. This programme of Mozart, Schubert, Fauré, Strauss, Ina Boyle, Ó Loingsigh and Feuchtwanger was greatly appreciated by audiences in Galway city, Kylemore Abbey and St. Ann’s Dublin.
